Film Number |
7496 |
Title |
A CELEBRATION OF AFRICAN CULTURE: THE CINEMA OF THE LIBERATION MOVEMENTS WITH MORENA MONERANG AND AFRICAN DAWN |
Producer |
WFA |
Date |
1983 |
Gauge |
U-matic LB |
Colour |
colour |
Sound |
sound |
Running Time |
28 mins 18 secs |
Description |
The fourth session of a 10 week Celebration of African Culture, held at WFA Media and Cultural Centre in Manchester between February and May 1983. Gareth Richards introduces Morena Monerang from Azania (South Africa), a poet who works with poetry performers, African Dawn. Morena talks about poetry and recites a poem dedicated to Angola and the MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola). Arhmed Sheikh introduces African Dawn who performs dramatic poetry fused with African music. Three principles drive the group - people based,internationalist and Afro-centric. Music from an Afro-centric point of view. The performance is followed by a talk by Kwesi Owusu about history and how it relates to African Dawn. For all people struggling against imperialism there is a need for reclamation - a re-interpretation of our own history. It is this which inspires their songs, sung by women against oppression, by peasants against landlords, by warriors before battle. In this country, main audiences are working class peoples. He draws similarities between Irish ballads and some African forms, and talks about creative workshops in Brixton at the Arben Centre - a celebration of hope during the height of the Brixton riots in 1981. |
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